Sustainability and Growth
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Why Australia can lead the world in making products and services better
Tom Voirol | November 6, 2012User focused design has helped with the success of products like the iPhone. Tom Voirol explains how, by implementing this approach, Australian organisations and users can reap the significant benefits.
You may not have heard the term, but user experience design (or UX) is getting increased traction in developing services and products that are more useful, usable and even desirable. It is the practice of putting the users and their needs, wants and preferences at the centre of the design process.
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Advertising builds sales, helps your business grow
Qantas | October 28, 2012Is your business looking for ways to raise your profile?
Advertising raises customer’s awareness of your products and services and it educates them on the related benefits. It generates interest from your target audience and allows them to evaluate your product or service.
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How to respond to misinformation that’s hurting your business
Shawn Callahan | October 16, 2012Stories and misunderstandings can cause havoc for your business. Shawn Callahan explores ways to combat misinformation.
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Challenges for the retail entrepreneur
Russell Zimmerman | September 25, 2012The retail sector in Australia is facing a number of challenges, and not all of them are related to lax consumer spending. Russell Zimmerman spoke at the GAP Productivity Summit about the Australian Retailers Association’s concerns.
Small and medium enterprises in Australia face a lot of challenges. But there are also many opportunities out there for the brave entrepreneur. I have identified some of my top concerns for the retail sector.
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Productivity is in the eye of the beholder
David Byers | September 12, 2012Industrial relations continues to be a divisive topic in Australia, especially when it comes to productivity. David Byers says for our our oil and gas sector to flourish access to skilled labour is essential.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And it seems the same can be said of productivity.
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How can you impact employee engagement?
Sean Conrad | September 4, 2012What can you do to make your employees and workplace one which functions productively? Sean Conrad shares his tips on employee engagement.
Much has been written about the importance of employee engagement to an organisation’s bottom line. The cost of disengaged employees to mid-sized businesses is huge, including the cost of replacing those who leave, the potential loss of intellectual capital and the negative impact of those who stay but are disgruntled or don’t give their best.
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Making the most of undergraduate talent – Mid size business and Student Interns
Alice Watkins | August 29, 2012Any business needs to employ good people to be sustainable and to grow, yet recruiting skilled staff is becoming much more of a competitive challenge. Alice Watkins from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) shares her advice to First 5000 members on working with interns.
As the Baby Boomer generation retires, 30% to 40% of today’s workers will leave the workforce. Due to low birthrates, these people will not be replaced by enough new workers to fill their shoes.
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How to win customers overseas
NAB - Business View | August 1, 2012Are you looking to win customers overseas? David Thomas, CEO of Think Global Consulting, shares his expertise in facilitating business and investment between developed and emerging countries.
My top pieces for advice for entering overseas markets are: follow business etiquette to the letter, research copiously and don’t even think about going offshore till you’ve raised enough capital.
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Have your say: mature age worker tax offset
Helen Hull | July 24, 2012The Government announced in the 2012-13 Budget that it would phase out the mature age worker tax offset (MAWTO). You are invited to have your say on the reforms.
Closing date for submissions: Friday 17 August 2012.
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Most valuable businesses don’t depend on you
Mark Ostryn | July 23, 2012To grow a valuable company that you can sell Mark Ostryn believes you must set it up so that it is not reliant on you. He shares his ideas on how best to achieve this.
This is easier said than done, especially when, like a PR consultant or plumber, what you are selling is your expertise.
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Balancing growth with satisfaction
Shivani Gupta | July 17, 2012Sometimes it’s good to take stock of where your business is at and how you are servicing your existing clients. Shivani Gupta shares her experience in creating the right balance.
These past few months I have found myself busy with clients and many projects but still rushing from meeting to meeting, always searching for more opportunities.
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Corporate mobility – enabling a more flexible working culture
Craig Manson | July 3, 2012As the mobile revolution takes off, how can businesses best manage the evolution of the mobile worker? Craig Manson shares the approach Canon has taken to equip their staff with everything they need on the go.
Our simple mobile phones were once the only tools of mobile technology available, however, as we enter into a new dawn of corporate mobility – employees are demanding more sophisticated and faster services to allow them to communicate efficiently, regardless of the physical location.
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Have your say: Draft tax ruling ‘employer’
Helen Hull | June 27, 2012You are invited to comment on the identification of the term ’employer’ for the purposes of the short-term visit exception under the Income from Employment Article, or its equivalent, of Australia’s tax treaties.
Submissions close: 6 July 2012.
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Defending your market from competition
Mark Ostryn | June 26, 2012How do you make your business stand out from the pack? Mark Ostryn shares his ideas on how to defend your business against competition.
Warren Buffett famously invests in businesses that have what he calls a protective ‘moat’ around them – one that inoculates them from competition and allows them to control their pricing.
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Have your say: Hazardous waste
Helen Hull | June 19, 2012The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is undertaking a review of the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 and associated regulations.
Submissions close: 12 July 2012.
